Father charged after running over son with van

Friday

Dec 27, 2013 at 12:00 PM

A 911 caller described the father holding the injured child tight immediately after the accident.

The Associated Press

A father was jailed after he drove away without talking to officers about running over his 4-year-old son who had fallen out of their van near a central Ohio construction site, fatally injuring the boy, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Natividad de Jesus Hernandez, 30, of Columbus, was arrested Thursday after showing up at a hospital where his son, Angel Gustbabo Hernandez, died after the accident earlier in Union County, northwest of Columbus.

Jail records said Hernandez is charged with failure to exchange information after an accident, a third-degree felony. A scheduled appearance Friday in Marysville municipal court was postponed because Hernandez doesn't understand English well enough, Trooper Jeremy Allen said. He'll remain jailed until the rescheduled Monday morning hearing. No attorney information was available.

Troopers said Hernandez had pulled the Chevrolet Venture onto the gravel driveway of the under-construction house in hopes of finding scrap material that he could sell, The Columbus Dispatch reported. The little boy grabbed the handle of the sliding door and opened it, authorities said. He tumbled out and was hit by the van.

A 911 caller described the father holding the injured child tight immediately after the accident.

After an officer arrived and whisked the boy to a waiting ambulance, Hernandez jumped back in the van and left, the patrol said.

Angel was taken to OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Later, a hospital employee called the patrol to say the father was there. Officers went to the hospital and interviewed Hernandez, who told them what happened.

Patrol Lt. Molly Clemens said Hernandez doesn't speak English well and left the scene of the acccident because he was confused. He said paramedics had taken his son, and he didn't know what was happening or what he was supposed to do.